Smoking banned in public places from today

India on Thursday once again imposed a countrywide ban on smoking in public spaces in its fight against tobacco use, four years after a largely ignored earlier prohibition saw people continue to puff away in restaurants, clubs and bars.The ban, aimed at the country's 120 million smokers, has received a good response from people across the country,Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss asserted.
"It is a continuous process, ... and the message will go across through repeated awareness campaigns by the government and the media," Ramadoss, a tireless anti-smoking campaigner, told reporters.

The new order bars smoking in hotels, eateries, cafes, pubs, bars, discotheques, offices, airports, railway stations, bus stops, shopping malls and parks. People can continue to smoke in private homes and open spaces.The new ban has directed establishments to appoint anti-smoking officers who will be liable if people smoke.

Britain, France, Ireland and Thailand are among the countries that already have similar bans in place.
The fine for violating India's order is 200 rupees (4.29 dollars), but health authorities said higher fines of up to 25 dollars were being contemplated.
The new Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008 came into force on the anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi the Father of Nation, who was known for his ascetic habits.
Citing a survey that found that 52 per cent of children took up smoking after watching film stars lighting up on the screen, Ramadoss appealed to Bollywood celebrities not to encourage smoking.
"People look up to celebrities and follow them," the minister said. "Our popular film star Rajnikanth has stopped smoking in movies. Other stars should also set an example."
Besides the police, government officers; inspectors of central excise, sales tax, transport and health departments; and principals of schools have been given powers to fine violators on their respective premises.
Officials acknowledged that enforcement might not be easy.


India is the third-largest tobacco producer and consumer in the world after China and the United States.
According to a Health Ministry release, more than 2,200 Indians die every day from tobacco use. They are at risk from cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, strokes and cancer.
A recent study by a team of doctors showed that tobacco smoking would kill 1 million people annually beginning in 2010.
Saying India is in the midst of a "catastrophic epidemic of smoking deaths," the doctors warned that nearly 70 per cent of the million deaths would take place among smokers in their prime.

In this large, nationally representative case–control study, it was found that in both rural and urban India, among men between the ages of 30 and 69 years, the rate of death from any medical cause in smokers was 1.7 times that in nonsmokers of similar age, educational level, and alcohol status (use or nonuse). Among female smokers, mortality from any medical cause was double that among their nonsmoking counterparts.
If you are still not convinced about quitting smoking read this and decide.

Quitting Smoking

''Smoking cessation (stop smoking) represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives."
I take pride in my ability to make my patients quit smoking.In last 10 years I might have helped hundreds of my patients quit smoking.
First I tell them that there is a long Que of diseases trying to get into the body of a smoker.Who will come first I don't know. It is a race. Either heart attack or Lung Cancer or mouth cancer or chronic obstructive lung disease or one of the umpteen other diseases and cancers will win the race but others will soon follow.
Then the patient will respond by saying "I will reduce smoking".
"That is of no use. That wont save you from those diseases " will be my warning.
Then the patient will say "I will reduce first and stop completely within a short period".
My reply will be "In my experience it is difficult to stop smoking like that. The best method is to stop suddenly. I am sure you will be able to stop suddenly when you are in ICU but it is wiser to stop it before reaching the ICU". The patient will be usually convinced.
Then in the patient's file under that day's date, in bold capital letters I will write STOPPED SMOKING TODAY and show the patient what I had written. This works most of the time.
For very heavy smokers quitting suddenly may not be that easy, but still with some mental strength most people can quit suddenly.
These are the immediate and long term benefits of quitting smoking from cancer.org

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's
5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's

Kicking the tobacco habit offers some benefits that you'll notice right away and some that will develop over time. These rewards can improve your day-to-day life a great deal.

your breath smells better
stained teeth get whiter
bad smelling clothes and hair go away
your yellow fingers and fingernails disappear
food tastes better
your sense of smell returns to normal
everyday activities no longer leave you out of breath (for example, climbing stairs or light housework).